Performance Evaluation of Horizontal Subsurface Flow–Constructed Wetlands for the Treatment of Domestic Wastewater in the Tropics
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 3
Abstract
The lack of information on constructed-wetland performance in the tropics is among the factors that have hindered the adoption of low-cost wastewater-treatment technologies as alternatives to conventional wastewater treatment. A pilot scale study was undertaken in Juja (Kenya) to assess the performance of horizontal subsurface flow–constructed wetlands (HSSF-CWs) under tropical conditions. Primary domestic wastewater effluent was continuously fed into three replicate wetland cells, each with an area of () and with gravel as substrate. The study revealed successful performance of the wetlands in terms of compliance with local discharge standards with respect to chemical-oxygen demand (COD), , total suspended solids (TSS), and at an average mass removal efficiency between 58.9 and 74.9%. Moderate removal of and total phosphorus (TP) was recorded. The estimated first-order aerial-rate constant and the background concentration showed the HSSF-CW to be area-requirement competitive. The good performance in organic matter and suspended solids removal reveals that HSSF-CW can help to alleviate the current environmental pollution problems experienced in developing countries caused by the discharge of partially treated or untreated domestic wastewater.
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Acknowledgments
The results of this study were obtained thanks to the fellowship awarded by the Dutch Government through NUFFIC-NFP Project No. 320.24424 (2008–2012).
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 3 • March 2013
Pages: 358 - 367
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 29, 2011
Accepted: Aug 6, 2012
Published online: Aug 17, 2012
Published in print: Mar 1, 2013
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